Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
Health Director’s Report <br />May, 2015 <br /> <br />Note: this Health Director’s report is longer than usual because we didn’t have a full meeting in April, just the joint <br />meeting with the BOCC, so I have twice as much information to share. <br /> <br /> Staff <br />o We have been doing a lot of interviewing and hiring lately: <br /> Since our last meeting, LaToya Strange, Administrative Assistant to the Health Director started. <br />She is fitting in nicely and all of us are benefiting from her wonderful assistance. <br /> We have also selected Allison Young as the Informatics Manager, replacing Mike Fliss. We <br />already considered her part of the family because she was working here as an Informatics Fellow <br />prior to this promotion. <br /> We’ve hired three nurses, a Health Educator and a PA in clinic. We are still <br />recruiting/interviewing for a couple more nurses. <br /> We have filled our vacant (due to retirement) Soil Scientist position as well. <br /> We’ve also posted our new Dentist and Dental Assistant positions that we expect to hire early <br />July. <br />o All these new folks will attend at least one Board of Health meeting in the near future, so you’ll get a <br />chance to meet them. <br /> <br /> Board of Health Priorities <br />o The Family Success Alliance sent a team of about a dozen people to the Harlem Children’s Zone <br />Practitioner’s Institute last week. It was a great opportunity to see and better understand the various <br />components of the pipeline they’ve created over the last 20 years and talk with our group about our <br />vision for moving forward. <br />o Last night the BOCC approved allocating $90,000 to our first two FSA interventions: a kindergarten <br />readiness/family literacy project and Zone Navigators. We are awaiting news from the United Way <br />about our Outreach and Evaluation funding request we submitted this spring. <br />o Community Health Assessment planning is on-going. Liska will provide a more updated report about <br />how Board of Health members can help out and get involved. <br />o The Manager presented her recommended budget to the BOCC last night. I’ve emailed you the specifics <br />of what was and was not included in her budget for the Health Department, but I am excited about the <br />$250,000 in the Health Department’s budget for the Family Success Alliance. <br /> <br /> Various <br />o We currently have 3 individuals being monitored for Ebola symptoms. That brings our count so far to 26 <br />since last fall. <br />o Last night the BOCC approved our recommended centralized permitting software vendor and authorized <br />the Manager to approve and execute a contract. This reflects the end of a two-year vetting and <br />selection process and kicks off our year of implementation. Through it all, staff in Environmental Health <br />has been engaged, professional and dedicated to finding the best solution for all partners. <br />o HD staff made it to OC California one week early on their walking trip! We celebrated with fajitas and <br />popsicles.  <br />o We are still waiting on the ABC Board grant decision for the Alcohol Misuse Prevention Project Manager. <br />The Town, University and Health Department are committed to making this happen even if not funded, <br />and are meeting next week to iron out the final details before posting the position. <br />o I participated in a national strategic planning training review committee for the National Association of <br />County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). This involved 6 weeks of intense review and weekly <br />conference calls, but it was a great learning experience to see how others do strategic planning. <br />o April was also the Health Director’s Legal Conference. This is always my favorite annual conference to <br />attend and I always learn new things.